Automatic curtain tie back



June 17-, 1930. w. OCCHIUZZO AUTOMATIC CURTAIN TIEBACK Filed Aug. 27 192a Patented June 17, 1930 WILLIAM OCCHIUZZO, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PATENT FFICE AUTOMATIC CURTAIN, TIE BACK 'Application filedAugust 27, 1928. Serial No. 302,307.

The present invention relates to tie-backs for curtains and similar draperies, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a novel and eflicientcurtain tieback whereby the curtain may be drawn back in a neat manner when so desired by the mere releasing of an automatically operable device permanently disposed adjacent the outer edge of the curtain.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automaticcurtain tieback embodying an arrangement whereby the curtain may be drawn back to any desired extent, and which device is so detachably associated with the curtain as to not in any way detract from the general appearancethereof.

A still further object of the invention resides in the provision of an automatic curtain tieback embodying a spring actuated reel adapted to be permanently mounted adjacent one edge of the window and a tie cord adapt' ed to be detachably connected with the curtain, with release means associated with the reel whereby the tie cord will'be automatically wound on the reel to draw the curtain into folds adjacent the edge of the window. A still further and important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will be neat .in'appear'anca'one which is susceptible of ready and easy attachment, and one wherein the movable parts are so enclosed as to prevent any possible injury being done the curtains with which the tiebacks are associated.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification and in which drawing: V I

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a window opening provided with curtains, and showing one of the improved jtiebacks as associated with one of the curtains.

Figure 2 is an enlarged section on line 22 of Figure 1 showing the internal arrangement of the device and the simple manner of attachment of the device. 7

Figure 3 is a section on line 3--3 of F igure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

igure 4: is a section on line 44 of Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing two of the curtain attaching members and the manner in which they are associated with the tie cords.

Referring to the drawing in detail, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts thruout the several views, the letter A designates a window casing having curtains or drapes B associated therewith, and C the improved tieback for drawing the curtain B toward one edge of the window casing.

The tieback device C embodies a casing or housing 5 embodying a tubular body portion 6 being open at its inner side and internally screw threaded as at 7 adjacent its innerend. The inner edge of the tubular body portion 6 is provided with diametrically arranged slots or recesses 8 which preferably extend from the inner edge of the body portion to a point adjacent the inner end of the threads 7. The outer end of the body portion 6 is closed by a hollow cap 9 embodying an inner section 10 provided with a circumferential flange 11 for attachment to the forward edge of the tubular body portion as by welding or the like, and an axially disposed tubular sleeve 12 providing a guide way 13 axially of and opening into the tubular body portion. Secured in any preferred manner at its circumferential portion to the circumferential portionof the inner section 10 is a face plate 14 having an axially disposed opening aligning with the outer end of the guide way 13, and the outer surface of the face plate 14 may be ornamented in any suitable design as shown by example in Figure 1. slidably fitting within the tubular body portion 6 from the inner open end thereof, is a closure disc 15 provided with diametrically projecting lugs 16 for slidably fitting in the slots 8. These lugs 16 serve to prevent rotation of the closure disc within the tubular body portion, and also serve as means for limiting inward movement of the closure disc whereby the disc is retained in spaced lowing the keeper arm 40 to spring past the ratchet notches as the tie cord is being unwound from the drum.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that a novel and efficient automatic curtain tieback has been provided which will be neat and efficient in operation, and which device when associated with a curtain or various other types of draperies, will not in any way detract from the appearance of the curtain.

Changes in detail may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the illvention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A tieback for curtains comprising a housing for mounting adjacent one side edge of the curtain, a spring actuated drum rotatably mounted in the housing, a tie cord wound on said drum and extending from the housing, said tie cord when withdrawn from the housing to place the spring of the drum under tension, means for attaching the tie cord to a curtain, and release means for said drum for allowing rewinding of the tie cord thereon.

2. A tieback for curtains comprising a housing for mounting adjacent one side edge of the curtain, a spring acutated drum rotatably mounted in the housing, a tie cord wound on said drum and extended from the housing, said tie cord when withdrawn from the housing to rotate the drum for placing the spring of the drum under tension, release means for the drum, means for attaching the terminal of the tie cord to the inner edge of the curtain, and a plurality of curtain attaching members freely movable on the tie cord.

3. A tieback for curtains comprising a housing provided with a guide way, a hub fixedly mounted in the housin coaxially of the guide way, a drum rotatab y mounted on the hub and having ratchet notches provided on its inner side, a tie cord wound on the drum and extending from the housing with meansthereon for attachment to the curtain, a coil spring having one end connected to the fixed hub andits opposite end connected to the drum whereby the spring will be placed under tension when the tie cord is unwound from the drum, and release means for allowing rewinding of the tie cord upon the drum by said spring for drawing the curtain into folds at one side including a button slidable in said guide way and a keeper arm engageable in said ratchet notches, said keeper arm to be released from the notches upon inward movement of the button.

4. A tie back for curtains comprising a housing provided with a guide way, a stub shaft fixedly mounted in the housing coaxially of the guide way and provided with a diametrically formed keyway, a drum rotatably mounted on the stub shaft embodying a disc side, a coil spring having one end connected with the stub shaft and its opposite end connected with the drum and adapted to be placed under tension thru unwinding of the tie cord from the drum, a finger button movable in the guide way and having a shank ex tending from its inner end into the keyway of the stub shaft, a keeper arm carried by the inner end of the shank and projecting radially of the stub shaft thru the keyway with its r outer end adapted for engagement in said ratchet notches, and spring means for retaining the keeperv arm in engagement with the ratchet notches for preventing rotation of the drum until an inward pressure is exerted on said button.

5. A tieback for curtains comprising a housing having a guide way, a stub shaft fixedly mounted in the housing coaxially of the guide way and provided with a keyway formed diametrically of the stub shaft, a drum rotatably mounted on the stub shaft including a disc portion disposed at the inner side of the drum and provided with a series of ratchet notches arranged concentric to the axis'of' the stub shaft, a tie cord wound on the drum and extending from the housing with means thereon for attachment to the curtain for draping the same to one side, a coil spring having one end connected with the stub shaft and its opposite end connected with the drum to be placed under tension upon unwinding of the tie cord from the drum, a finger biitton slidably mounted in the guide Way of the housing, a shank extending inwardly from the button for sliding movement in the keyway of the stub shaft, a keeper arm extending radially from the inner end of the shank thru the keyway of the stub shaft'and having a hooked outer end extending toward the button for engagement in the ratchet notches provided in the disc portion of the drum, and an expansion spring acting upon the inner end of the shank for yieldably urging the keeper'arm into engagement with the ratchet notches. 1

6. A tieback for curtains comprising a housing embodying a tubular body portion and a cap closing the outer end of the'body portion and providedwith a guide way, a re- 'movable closure disc for the,inner end of the tubular body portion and provided with an axially disposedopening being closed at itsinner end, a stub shaft carried by the closure disc coaxially of said opening, a drum rotatably mounted on the stub shaft embodying a disc portion and'an angularly disposed inner fiange engageable with the closure disc for spacing the disc portion from the closure disc, said disc portion having a series of fangularly arranged ratchet notches provided at its innenside, a tie cord wound on the drum and extending from the-housing andhaving meansithereonforattachment 5 to a curtain for draping :the sameito one :side',

a-coil' spring having one end connected to the stub shaft and its opposite end connected :to the drum tobe placed under tension upon unwinding of the tie cord from the rdrum,

a button slidablyimounted in the guide Way of said cap "and having a shank extending axially thru the said shaft with its inner end in confronting relation withthe opening in said closure disc, ahookshaped keeper arm extending radially from the shank forengagement' in the ratchet notches'of the drum, and an expansion coil, spring arranged in the opening of the closure disc and engaging the inner end :of said shank for normally urging the keeper arm intoengageinent with the ratchet notches.

7. A tieback for curtains comprising a tubular ibody portion being internally screw threaded at its'in'ner endand having dia- 1 metrically disposed slots opening at its inner ends, a hollow cap'secured ,tothe outer end of the tubular body portion and provided with an'axially disposed guide wayna closure disc slidably fitting in the body-portion from the inner end thereof and having radially projecting lugs engageable in the slotsin -the body portion, a locking ring threaded into the body portion for retaining the closure disc against displacement in-the body portion, astub shaft carried bythe closure disc coaxially of said guideopening and provided with a diametrically donned keyway, a spring actuated drum rotatably mountedon said stub shaftandprovided with-a series ofannularly arranged ratchet notches, a'tie cord wound onthe-drumand-extending from the housing toplace the spring of-the drum under tension when the tie cord is unwound fromthe drum,-means on the tie, cordfor at- "'Z-' tachment to the curtain for draping the cur- I means.

tain to one side when the cordis Wound upon the drum, a release means slidably mounted in the guide way of said 'capa-nd embodying a keeperarm movable inthe keyway of the stub shaft and engageable in said ratchet notches, and a mounting disc for threaded reception of the inner end of the tubular body portion.

8. In a tieback for curtain'sand the like,

a housing for fixed mounting at one sideedge of the curtain, a reel rotatablein th'ehousing, a tie cord wound on the reel,--mea'ns:carried by the tie cord for attachment to the curtain transversely thereof to hold the ECU!- tain draped to the side-when the cord is Wound upon the reel, spring means in-the housing acting to normally windthetiecord on the reel, andrelease means forthe spring WILLIAM occnmzzo. 

